Monday, 1 July 2013

WHAT ARE YOU WEARING? Part 2

Part
2 - Walled
for Display

Shortly after receiving this word “overlaid with
glory”, I started to read the historical books of Ezra
and Nehemiah together with the prophecies of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi
which were instrumental to the events of these times. I started to see
something which I had not seen before.

Jerusalem
did not prosper without a wall

Having returned from exile in Babylon, the people
of Israel began rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. They were persecuted and as
a result they stopped building. Only after Haggai and Zechariah the prophets imparted
vision and courage through the prophecies they spoke, did building recommence and
the temple was completed. However, despite this victory, famine and oppression
prevailed. It was only when Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem years later and
rebuilt the broken walls around the city that God’s people finally had security
and protection and began to prosper. Though God had been in their midst security
and protection only came when the wall was in place.

Ezra
the helper: overlayed Jerusalem with glory within

Once the temple had been built Ezra made
sure to teach God’s word to the people of Israel. Interestingly, the name Ezra
means helper; one of the names given to the Holy Spirit. God intended this glory
within FOR HIS PEOPLE to enjoy and to
experience.

Nehemiah
the comforter: overlayed Jerusalem with the glory on the outside

Nehemiah’s name means comforter; also another
name given to the Holy Spirit. Some years after Ezra, Nehemiah saw to it that
the city of Jerusalem was overlaid with glory outside the city around by rebuilding the city walls. God intended this overlaying of glory as
protection for Israel and also as a display of strength TO THOSE OUTSIDE it.

How
to wear a wall; the believer and the church

The temple in Jerusalem and the wall outside
Jerusalem is a prophetic picture which points to the New Covenant temple of the
Holy Spirit.

The Ark of the Covenant; the first place
where God chose to dwell is a precursor to the New Covenant dwelling place of
God; within the believer themselves. When we become Christians, the new spirit
we are given, the Holy Spirit, dwells within us. In this way, and like the Ark
of ancient Israel, we are overlaid on the inside with the spirit of God, Christ
in us; the hope of glory. God said in Joel 2:28 that “In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all people”.

Just as
the Spirit was poured out on Jesus and rested “UPON”Him so will all believers in Jesus wear the Spirit on the outside, just as
Jesus did. In Luke 24:49 Jesus says:

“I am
going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you
have been clothed with power from on high.”

Here it is clear
we will be clothed with the Garment of the Spirit, we will wear the Spirit on
the outside just like Jesus did.

God is holding out a truth for us to grasp,
which is so liberating that if we step into it and grasp it we will be
completely renewed and will inherit and live the abundant life.The
wall clothes, protects and shelters the city. The city wears its wall proudly
and becomes reinforced and empowered by its presence.

The prophetic words of Zechariah speak of the day
when the Holy Spirit will be a wall of fire like at Pentecost around the
dwelling place of God, a child of God / believer. “… I myself will be a wall of fire around it, declares the LORD, 'and I
will be its glory within”Zechariah 2:5. This is the same prophetic picture
of the New Covenant temple of the Holy Spirit believer as in Joel 2.

Stepping
onto the wall

Finally, Nehemiah steps onto the wall
itself which causes great joy and celebration to break out among the people. This
is a declaration of trust in the Holy Spirit which is the wall of fire around
the city. Nehemiah cries out for us to do likewise.

Ezra prophetically declares wearing the Spirit of Glory within
brings hope, Nehemiah prophetically declares that, security, strength and
comfort come by wearing your fire around you. The Holy Spirit within (the
Temple in the city) was for use by the people of God, the wall (the Holy Spirit
on the outside) is to display the Gods Glory unto the nations.